Chapter 33: Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue
The next morning.
Everyone gathered in the hotel's private dining room, enjoying a delicious breakfast.
Qin Ming spoke up, "Yesterday was a special case. Starting tonight, you'll all replace sleep with meditation."
"Yes, Teacher Qin…" The group clearly hadn't fully woken up yet, their responses drowsy and spiritless.
Xiao Wu sipped her carrot porridge and asked, "Teacher Qin, classes officially start tomorrow. Can we spend today playing around Heaven Dou City?"
Clearly, last night's celebration still left the old bunny wanting more.
Qin Ming nodded and replied, "You can. But be sure to gather at the bamboo grove by 9 a.m. tomorrow."
"Oh yeah! Long live Teacher Qin!" Xiao Wu cheered with delight.
Zu Zong rolled his eyes. "You little rabbit only knows how to play. Go back and cultivate properly today."
Faced with the noble cause of food and fun, Xiao Wu was fearless. "No way! You promised yesterday you'd spend the whole day with me in Heaven Dou City!"
"I never said that. I forgot!"
"How dare you go back on your word—raaawr!" Still the same tactic, still the same flavor—Xiao Wu, failing to charm him, sank her teeth into Zu Zong's arm.
"Ah! What kind of sin is this? Rabbit! Let go!"
"Mmmph!" (mumbling through a mouthful)
"Let go or not!?"
"I won't! You liar!"
"Hahahaha!" The group burst into laughter at their antics. Even the typically emotionless Ye Lingling had a faint smile on her face.
×××
Heaven Dou City, Royal Palace
A man in his late twenties sat in a pavilion, quietly enjoying breakfast. He wasn't overly handsome, but with a straight nose and firm lips, dressed in a clean cyan robe, he gave off a fresh and refined air. His long black hair was tied neatly behind him with a cyan ribbon. Though plainly dressed, he carried a unique and noble aura.
Kneeling beside him was a middle-aged man in black clothing.
The youth sipped his tea and said calmly, "Speak. What's the matter?"
The man replied respectfully, "Your Highness, yesterday Prince Xue Beng was beaten up by two new students at Heaven Dou Academy."
This youth was none other than Crown Prince Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire.
"Heh… My foolish brother must've provoked them first. Who are these two students who dared to lay hands on the Fourth Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire?"
"Your Highness, we're not sure yet. What we know is that they were personally invited by Soul Douluo Meng Shenji. Apparently, the two are exceptionally gifted and highly regarded by the academy's council. One of them even defeated Dugu Yan of the Royal Battle Team yesterday. They've both already joined the Royal Battle Team."
Xue Qinghe picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped the corner of his mouth, his face calm and composed.
"Oh? So two more talents have entered Heaven Dou Academy. Interesting…"
After the middle-aged man left, the Crown Prince picked up a document from the table, stepped out of the courtyard, and gazed skyward.
"So… these are the ones that woman has been watching all these years?"
At the same time—
Spirit City, Supreme Pontiff Hall
A woman sat upon the central throne.
She was not tall, yet her presence was overwhelming. Her body was wrapped in a radiant golden gown that fit her perfectly from head to toe.
The dress shimmered with divine light, inlaid with over a hundred gemstones in red, blue, and gold. Atop her head rested a Nine-Curved Purple-Gold Crown that gleamed magnificently. In her hand, she held a two-meter-long scepter encrusted with countless gems.
Her snow-white skin and nearly flawless beauty set her apart from the mortal world. But what truly captivated was the invisible aura of nobility and holiness that radiated from her—so powerful that one couldn't help but feel compelled to kneel and worship.
She was Bibi Dong—the Supreme Pontiff of the Spirit Hall.
A golden-haired girl around seventeen or eighteen years old entered the grand hall and bowed respectfully to the woman seated upon the throne. "Teacher, the person you asked me to monitor has now joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
The regal woman was none other than Bibi Dong, the youngest Supreme Pontiff in the history of Spirit Hall. The girl bowing before her was her only disciple—Hu Liena.
Bibi Dong nodded and said, "Mm. Nana, send some people to protect him from the shadows. Do not let him come to harm, but also do not disturb him."
"Yes, Teacher. But…" Hu Liena hesitated slightly. She clearly wanted to ask something but ultimately held her tongue.
Noticing her expression, Bibi Dong revealed a rare, gentle smile. "You and I are master and disciple. Speak your mind freely."
"Yes, Teacher… I don't understand. That person's talent may be extraordinary, but he's not part of Spirit Hall. Why do you value him so highly?"
Bibi Dong shook her head and didn't give a direct answer. "I'll tell you in time. For now, just know this—he will never be an enemy of Spirit Hall."
Meanwhile, Zu Zong's side wasn't nearly so relaxed.
After breakfast, Xiao Wu dragged Dugu Yan—and by extension, Ye Lingling—into a full-day shopping spree. When it came to women and shopping, there was no upper limit. From morning to evening, they scoured every inch of Heaven Dou City. Naturally, this tortured both Yu Tianheng and Zu Zong.
The two men were covered in bags of all shapes and sizes. When Zu Zong suggested they store some in a soul tool, he was immediately shot down by Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan.
Because, as all women seem to agree: shopping is only fun if you carry everything yourself.
Zu Zong (grumbling): "Then you carry it yourselves!"
Yu Tianheng (patting Zu Zong's shoulder, resigned): "Brother… I'm used to it."
As dusk approached, the five finally returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. And this was only because Xiao Wu and Zu Zong hadn't completed their housing registration—otherwise, the girls would've kept shopping all night.
Unlike Shrek's straw hut dormitories, Heaven Dou Academy provided each student with an individual room. Members of the school's elite Royal Battle Team even had their own private courtyards.
Now that they were at Heaven Dou Academy, Zu Zong obviously couldn't continue rooming with Xiao Wu like back at Nuoding. Even when Xiao Wu gave him those pitiful puppy eyes, he remained unmoved.
As Zu Zong put it: "We've grown up. We're not kids anymore. We have to preserve our chastity."
Qingjiao: "Tch! Chastity? You?"
Zu Zong (sitting in meditation): "Amitābha. Do not disturb me. I must remain pure to cultivate the Nine Yang Divine Art. What if sparks accidentally fly?"
The next morning, everyone gathered at the bamboo grove.
Qin Ming had already been waiting.
Once everyone arrived, he said, "Originally, today's plan was for you all to spar and get used to working with your new teammates. But the academy received a last-minute directive: we're to head to Soto City and participate in a team spirit battle tournament."
To seasoned students like Dugu Yan and the others, such under-the-table arrangements were nothing new. As long as they didn't interfere with training, they'd just complain a little and go along with it.
Dugu Yan scoffed with disdain. "Hmph! Just another one of those rich nobles' money games!"
Zu Zong nodded to himself. So this was it—the trigger for the Royal Battle Team's trip to Soto City, where they would eventually lose to Shrek Academy in the original timeline.
Xiao Wu tilted her head, full of question marks. "What's a 'Great Spirit Arena'? And what does Sister Yan mean by 'money game'?"
(End of Chapter)
Hey readers! If you're eager to dive into advanced chapters, consider joining our Patreon. By joining, you'll get access to 20 chapters ahead and enjoy 8 new chapters per week. Plus, we have 8 more exciting fics with the same chapter release rate, giving you a total of 64 chapters per week! Join now and keep the adventure going!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/anish_44